OFFSET
0,1
COMMENTS
Let f(0)=m; f(n+1)=1+gpf(f(n)), where gpf(n) is the greatest prime factor of n (A006530). For any m, for sufficiently large n the sequence f(n) oscillates between 3 and 4. Given a sufficiently large n, this allows us to divide integers in two classes: C3 (m such that the sequence f(n) enters the cycle 3, 4, 3, ...) and C4 (m such that the sequence f(n) enters the cycle 4, 3, 4, ...). We present here C3 as the one that begin with 3. In A120685 we present C4 as the one that begin with 4.
EXAMPLE
Oscillation between 3 and 4: 1+gpf(3)=1+3=4; 1+gpf(4)=1+2=3.
Other value, e.g. 7: 1+gpf(7)=1+7=8; 1+gpf(8)=1+2=3 (7 belongs to C3).
Other value, e.g. 20: 1+gpf(20)=1+5=6; 1+gpf(6)=1+3=4 (20 belongs to C4).
MATHEMATICA
f = Function[n, FactorInteger[n][[ -1, 1]] + 1]; mn = Map[(NestList[f, #, 8][[ -1]]) &, Range[2, 500]]; out = Flatten[Position[mn, 3]] + 1
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
Carlos Alves, Jun 25 2006
EXTENSIONS
Edited by Michel Marcus, Feb 23 2013
STATUS
approved